alles fertig
/ˈaləs ˈfɛrtɪç/word by word
The English phrase "all done" is expressed in German as alles fertig.
alles fertig is used to signal that a task, a meal or a process is complete.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of alles (everything) and fertig (finished/ready).
Which one should you use?
While fertig alone means "finished", adding alles (everything) emphasizes that the entire task is completed, similar to the English "all done".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaləs ˈfɛrtɪç/
Did you know?
- Etymologically, fertig is rooted in the Old High German word fart, meaning 'journey'. This suggests that being 'finished' originally implied being 'ready to set out on a journey'.
- In many German contexts, calling a person fertig can be a subtle insult. While it means 'finished' for a task, when applied to a person, it often means they are 'exhausted' or 'completely worn out'.
- If someone tells you Mach fertig!, they aren't telling you to finish a task, but are instead telling you to hurry up and get ready.
Examples in context
- Die Bestellung ist fertigThe order is all done
- Ich bin fertig mit dem PuzzleI'm all done with the puzzle
Example conversation
Felix and Sarah are cleaning the kitchen together.
- FelixIch habe den Abwasch erledigt, alles fertig!I did the dishes, all done!
- SarahSuper, Sarah hilft dir jetzt beim Aufräumen.Great, Sarah will help you tidy up now.
- FelixDanke, dann sind wir schnell alles fertig.Thanks, then we will be all done quickly.
- SarahJa, dann können wir endlich entspannen.Yes, then we can finally relax.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (alles, fertig) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alles, fertig, CC BY-SA 4.0.
